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Woman drops off newborn, leaves
Police say they won't press charges because infant was taken to hospital
JULIA KILPATRICK
The Gazette
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
A newborn baby boy was abandoned yesterday at the emergency entrance to the Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe Claire, Montreal police said.
A woman who appeared to be in her 30s, and whom police presume to be the mother, arrived at the hospital around 10 a.m. and handed the infant to a Lakeshore General employee, saying that she needed to park her car.
She never returned.
“We’re looking for her because she probably needs medical attention,” said Constable Olivier Lapointe, noting that the baby still had the umbilical cord attached.
“She probably gave birth alone or at least outside a hospital or a place where she could receive help.”
Police do not intend to press charges, Lapointe said.
“We can see that there’s no criminal intent – she probably brought the baby to the best place she could bring him. He was not left on the corner of the street, he was brought to the hospital and there are people taking good care of him right now.”
She did the right thing in bringing the baby to the hospital, said Marie-Josée Labrosse, spokesperson for the West Island Health and Social Services Centre.
“The baby was rushed inside, examined by our doctor and brought to the (nursery) upstairs, where he is under our doctors’ care in a stable condition.”
Labrosse encouraged women facing an emergency birth or an unwanted pregnancy to call a nurse through the health information service 8-1-1. Most hospitals are also equipped to help mothers-to-be who are facing difficulties.
“If you’re going to have a child and you don’t know who to talk to, there are services at your local CLSC. You’re not alone.”
jkilpatrick@thegazette.canwest.com